Utility rack



Dec. 23, 1947. R, E STOWELL 2,433,247

UTILITY RACK Fled April 23, 1945 Patented Dec. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICI?.

UTILITYRAoK Y Ralph stuwen, Weuingtommex. Application April 23, 1945,?isefia-1Nox5s9nsv 1 Claim. l

This invention relates to utili-ty wall racks and more particularly to folding racks for supporting -clothing and accessories.

The principal object ofthe invention is to provide a wall rack which in one form is-adaptable l articles will overlie each other ini-substantially flat relationship.

Another object oi` the invention is to provide a novel form of reinforcement by which the folding part of the rack is maintained in extended or operative position without such supporting means as chains, cord or the like which would interfere with the placing of articles on the rack and removal of the same therefrom. Moreover, provision is also made to secure the article support in folded position.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a utility rack constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a modified form of rack.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another modication of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view of Figure 3 in extended or operative position, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view of the support and mounting shown in Figures 3 and 4, in vertical section.

Continuing with a more detailed ldescription of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein I0 denotes a supporting bracket, preferably of wood or plastic which is secured to a wall by screws entering through holes II. Adjacent the lower end of this bracket is afxed a half of a hinge I2, the other half being afxed to a support I3, not unlike the bracket Iil in dimensions except that it is slightly shorter in length, for the purpose to be later explained.

The support I3 is transversely bored or drilled at equidistantly spaced intervals throughout its length to receive dowels I d, which extend outwardly therefrom on both sides a suitable distance to accommodate neckties or other articles sus- (Cll pended therefrom. `These dowels maybe fixed by ,Figure-1i in dottedlineswA clasp-I5 of spring metal is secured at the top of the bracket I0, under which the free end of the support I3 is moved, to hold the latter in folded position.

In Figure 2 is shown a modied form of the rack just described. A bracket IB of wood or plastic is -held on a wall by screws passedv through the holes I l and, at a point spaced from the lower end thereof is a hole I8 which extends entirely through the bracket and which receives the ends a of a wire frame I9. It will be observed that the ends a of the frame are bent at b to lie parallel with the edges of the bracket I9 in either raised or lowered position of the wire frame I9 and in the latter position, a bend c in these ends a provides a shoulder which abuts the face of the bracket I6 when the frame is in the horizontal position, thus supporting the same in this position.

The inwardly turned ends a of the frame I9, reposing in the hole I8, provide pivots by which the frame I9 is raised from the horizontal position shown in solid lines in Figure 2 to that shown in broken lines. At the free end of frame I9, the wire is bent to form a clasp 20 to frictionally engage the upper end of the bracket I6 when the frame is in folded position.

Cross wires 2| are welded or otherwise secured to the frame I9 in transverse relation thereto and parallel with each other to support neckties 0r other articles.

Figures 3 to 5 show still another modification of the invention in which the member 22 is a, wall bracket, formed with an extension 23, dening shoulders d. An article support 24 is bifurcated to straddle the extension 23 and a pin 25 extends through thebifurcations of the support and the extension 23 to permit the support to be disposed in the horizontal or the vertical position. In the horizontal position of the support 24, the shoulders d of the bracket 22 afford a stop, holding the support in position, as shown in Figure 4, The

3 bracket 22 is secured to the Wall by passing screws through holes 26.

In order to secure the supportl 24 in upright or folded position, a spring pressed detent 21 is countersunk in the end of the bracket extension 23 and is receivable in the aperture 28 of a keeper 29, which in turn, is secured by screws 30 to the support 24 in the slot or bifurcated portion thereof. The edges of the keeper plate 29 being beveled, the detent 21 will readily pass the same into the aperture of the plate when the support 24 is the bracket 22. A slight pull on the support will displace the locking means, that is, the detent 21,'

allowing the support to be lowered.

The support 24 has a series of holes 3| in spaced relation throughout its length to receive the inwardly turned ends of garment hangers 32 which hang in overlapping relationship on the support 24 when the latter is in raised or folded position. Otherwise, the hangers depend from the support 24 in the manner shown in Figure 4, to receive garments or to permit ready removal of garments or other articles therefrom.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modication and such modication as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A utility rack including a bifurcated article supporting member and a shouldered mounting member having an extension at one end to which the 4 bifurcated end of said rst member is pivoted, the shoulders of said mounting member being effective to support said rst member in operative extended relation to said mounting member, individual article retaining means spaced along said supporting member, a detent carried by the extension of said mounting member, and a socket in the bifurcated end of said supporting member complementary to and receiving said detent to hold said article supporting member in axial alignment with said mounting member.

RALPH E. STOWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 977,921 Zizinia Dec. 6, 1910 1,767,545 Mossbacher June 24, 1930 1,705,203 Patterson Mar, 12. 1929 1,995,980 Haymond Mar. 26, 1935 2,212,176 Horne Aug. 20, 1940 687,133 Denning Nov, 19, 1901 986,087 Ross Mar. 7, 1911 1,113,880 Darling Oct. 13, 1914 2,039,065 DeMark Apr. 28, 1936 1,041,147 Murphy Oct. 15, 1912 1,337,817 Bode Apr. 20, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,254 Great Britain 1901 

